Immigrants not only have the highest rates of uninsured, they are the majority of the uninsured.

94% of uninsured immigrant adults are either Latino or Asian American and Pacific Islander.

CAUS FACT SHEET

IMMIGRANTS: THE MAJORITY OF THE UNINSURED

Higher rates of uninsured among immigrant adults:

§         Immigrants make up 53% of uninsured Alameda County residents.

§         The likelihood of obtaining job-based insurance increases with the size of the employee’s work establishment. Most immigrants work in small firms that do not provide health coverage.

§         Of uninsured immigrant adults, 1/4 were naturalized citizens and 3/4 were non-citizens. Therefore, about 40% all uninsured adults in the Alameda County were non-citizens.

§         61% of uninsured immigrants were Latinos and 33% were Asian American/ Pacific Islander (AAPI).

§         Among the uninsured Latino immigrant adults, 76% were Mexican Americans and 16% were Central Americans.

§         Among the uninsured AAPI immigrant adults, 54% were Chinese, 17% were Vietnamese and 8% were Korean.

§         The largest portion of uninsured immigrant adults were near poor. About 43% of the uninsured earned between 100% to 250% of the federal poverty level, 30% earned below 100% of the federal poverty level and 27% earned above 250% of the federal poverty level.

§         Immigrants face language and cultural barriers that make it difficult to navigate an increasingly complex health insurance and health care system.

Immigration status, citizenship, and language create divide

§         A striking insurance “divide” exists by immigration status, citizenship, English fluency and duration of U.S. residency.

§         Uninsured rates for non-citizens are 2 to 3 times higher than for their citizen counterparts. While 21% of Latino citizens were uninsured, 63% of Latino non-citizens were uninsured. Among Vietnamese immigrants, 19% of citizens were uninsured and 39% of non-citizens were uninsured.

§         More recent immigrants are more likely to be uninsured. While 27% of Chinese adults who have been in the U.S. less than 5 years were uninsured, 16% of those who have been the U.S. more than 5 years were uninsured. Among Mexican Americans, 83% of those who have been in the U.S. less than 5 years were uninsured and 43% of those who have been the U.S. more than 5 years were uninsured.

§         Limited English speakers are more likely to be uninsured. While 25% of Mexican American adults who answered the survey in English were uninsured, 50% of Mexican American adults who answered the survey in Spanish were uninsured.